Table lock



June 10,1930. EBWALTER 1,763,571

TABLE LOCK Filed Feb. 13, 1928 gwuwntoz Frederick E. Wa Itez;

61m 1 w eq 5 Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES fP-ATENT OFFICE FREDERICK B. WALTER, OF WABASH, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO B. WALTER 8c 00., 0F WAIBASH, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA TABLE LocK Application filed February 13,1928. Serial No. 253,883.

My invention relates to improvements in table locks and particularly that type of table lock adapted for locking the sections of extension tables together.

It has for one of its objects the provision of a simple easily operated lock which, when the sections are moved together, will automatically move into locking position and which, when thrown to unlocking position will also tend to separate the sections.

Other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the accompanying specification and claims.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention I have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a bottom plan View of a table having my improved lock attached;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of my lock in looking position, and

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the lock moved to releasing position.

As illustrated in the drawings, the table shown is of the usual sectional type, the two sections 1 and 2 of which meet on the line 3. On one of the sections, in the present instance section 1', a keeper 4: is mounted which may be conveniently formed of sheet metal and is provided with a struck up keeper lug 5. The opposite section is provided with a hooked latch 6 mounted on one arm 7 of abell crank lever, the opposite arm 8 of which provides a manipulating lever for Y operating the latch. This lever is pivoted at 9 on a mounting plate 10 which may be screwed directly to thetable section 2.

A cam plate 11 is also mounted on the pivot 9 and this cam plate is provided at its forward edge with a cam 12 adapted to engage the keeper 5 when the latch is in locking position. This plate is limited in its movement in two directions by fingers 13 and 14 turned down on either side of the arm 7 The plate is biased toward the arm 7 by a coil spring 15 one end of which is secured to the cam plate and the other end of which is secured to the arm 8.

In operation, when the latch is in locked position, the cam surface 12 near its bottom and that portion beneath the hook 6 provides a restricted throatin which the keeper 5 is maintained, this throat being resiliently closed under the influence of the coil spring 15. When it is desired to unlatch the lock, movement of the arm 8 to throw the latch 6 out of engagement with the keeper 5 tends at the same time to rock the cam plate 11 on its pivot against the bias of the spring 15 and as soon as the latch 6 is disengaged from the keeper the camming action of the cam surface 12 on the keeper, under the influence of the spring 15 will tend to kick the two sections apart. With the parts in open position, when the two sections are moved together the keeper striking the cam surface 12 will draw the latch 6 toward the keeper and due to the resiliency of the spring 15 permit the cam surface and the keeper 12 to separate sufiiciently to allow the hook 6 to snap over the keeper, being drawn into its latched position under the influence of the spring.

I claim as my invention:

1. A latch for extension tables comprising a keeper and a hook relatively bodily mov able, said hook being pivotally mounted to permit movement into and out of locking engagement with said keeper, an arm m0vable with said hook and having a limited movement independently thereof and provided with a cam surface, means for urging said cam surface toward said hook and engaging said keeper to move the hook into engagement with the keeper, said cam surface when the hook is moved out of engagement with the keeper being adapted to engage the keeper and move the same relatively to the hook.

2. A look for extension tables comprising a keeper, a pivoted lever having a latch hook at one end, a cam plate pivotally mounted with said lever and having a cam surface adapted to engage said keeper, said cam plate having a limited independent movement with respect to said lever, and a spring for connecting said lever and cam plate.

3. A latch for extension tables comprising a keeper and a hook relatively movable, said hook being pivotally mounted to permit 5 movement into and out of engagement with V a cam surface, an

said keeper and havin hook and having a arm movable with sai limited movement independently thereof,

said arm having a portion engaging the face of said keeper and a cam surface cooperating with said cam surface on the hook to provide a substantially V shaped notch into which said kee er moves, said arm' and hook being provide with means to bias said arm and hook toward one another.

In witness whereof, I FREDERICK B. WAL- TER, have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 10th day ofFebruary,

- A. D. one thousand nine hundred and'twenty-eight.

"FREDERICK B. WALTER. 

